1.
PROFAST: A Randomized Trial Assessing the Effects of Intermittent Fasting and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus Probiotic among People with Prediabetes.
Tay, A, Pringle, H, Penning, E, Plank, LD, Murphy, R
Nutrients. 2020;12(11)
-
-
-
Free full text
Plain language summary
The prevalence of diabetes is increasing worldwide, and with it, the risk of cardiovascular disease is also increasing. Intermittent fasting has been shown to reduce weight and improve glycaemic control. Weight control and glycaemic control were also improved with probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001 supplementation. This pilot, 12-week, double-blinded, two-armed, randomized 1:1 study aimed to investigate the combined effects of intermittent fasting with daily probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001 supplementation on glycaemic management in participants with prediabetes. For two days, participants restricted their calorie intake to 600-650 kcal, followed by five days of ad libitum consumption (5:2). Intermittent fasting for 12 weeks improved glycaemic control (reduced HbA1c) and reduced body weight by 5%. The supplementation with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001 did not significantly improve these outcomes. Probiotic supplementation significantly improved mental health and social functioning in participants. There is a need for further large, robust studies to assess the effects of intermittent fasting alone and when it is combined with different exercise forms and different prebiotic and probiotic supplements on cardiometabolic markers and mental health. The findings of this study may be useful to healthcare professionals in understanding the effects of fasting on metabolism as well as the psychological benefits of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001 supplementation.
Abstract
Both intermittent fasting and specific probiotics have shown promise in improving glucose tolerance with a potential for synergistic effects through alterations to gut microbiota. In this randomized, double-blinded, two-arm feasibility study, we investigated whether intermittent fasting, supplemented with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001 probiotic, reduces HbA1c in individuals with prediabetes. All participants with HbA1c 40-50 mmol/mol commenced intermittent fasting (2 days per week of calorie restriction to 600-650 kcal/day) and were randomized 1:1 to either daily probiotic (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001) or placebo for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was a change in HbA1c. Secondary outcomes included changes in anthropometry, body composition, glucoregulatory markers, lipids, hunger hormones, liver enzymes, inflammatory markers, gut hormones, calorie and macronutrient intake, quality of life, hunger, mood and eating behavior. Of 33 participants who commenced the trial, 26 participants (mean age 52 years, body mass index (BMI) 34.7 kg/m2) completed the intervention (n = 11 placebo, n = 15 probiotic). HbA1c decreased from 43 ± 2.7 mmol/mol to 41 ± 2.3 mmol/mol, p < 0.001, with average of 5% weight loss. No significant between-group differences were seen in primary or secondary outcomes except for social functioning (p = 0.050) and mental health (p = 0.007) scores as improvements were seen in the probiotic group, but not in the placebo group. This study shows additional psychological benefits of probiotic supplementation during intermittent fasting to achieve weight loss and glycemic improvement in prediabetes.
2.
Oral sensory and cephalic hormonal responses to fat and non-fat liquids in bulimia nervosa.
Bello, NT, Coughlin, JW, Redgrave, GW, Moran, TH, Guarda, AS
Physiology & behavior. 2010;99(5):611-7
-
-
-
Free full text
-
Plain language summary
Bulimia nervosa (BN) is characterised by episodes of compulsive binge eating and compensatory behaviours such as restriction/fasting, over exercising or self-induced purging. Research suggests that sufferers may have alterations in their food evaluations and the cephalic phase of eating. This study explores whether the oral sensory responses from high fat liquids compared to non-fat liquids were different in BN subjects compared to healthy controls. The hormonal responses to each liquid were qualified by measuring glucose, insulin, ghrelin and pancreatic polypeptides (which have been found to be associated with cephalic phase of eating solid foods). Subjective hunger levels were also measured. Participants were 10 women aged between 18 and 42 years, and the control group consisted of 11 women without an eating disorder. The study found not significant differences between the fat and non-fat liquids in terms of hunger levels or hormonal responses. However, there were differences between the BN group and the control. BN compared to controls had higher levels of hunger at baseline. BN's also rated the liquids 'fattier' tasting regardless of the fat content of the liquids and also reported a 'fear of swallowing' more than the control group. There were also differences between the BN and control group in baseline hormonal levels - BN's had significantly elevated ghrelin and pancreatic polypeptide levels. BN's also had elevated ghrelin levels throughout. The authors concluded that BN women have different orosensory responses that are not influenced by opioid receptor antagonism, evident in hormonal responses, or dependent on the fat content of a similarly textured liquid.
Abstract
Sensory evaluation of food involves endogenous opioid mechanisms. Bulimics typically limit their food choices to low-fat "safe foods" and intermittently lose control and binge on high-fat "risk foods". The aim of this study was to determine whether the oral sensory effects of a fat versus a non-fat milk product (i.e., traditional versus non-fat half-and-half) resulted in different subjective and hormonal responses in bulimic women (n=10) compared with healthy women (n=11). Naltrexone (50mg PO) or placebo was administered 1h before, and blood sampling began 30 min prior to and 29 min after, a 3 min portion controlled modified sham-feeding trial. Following an overnight fast, three morning trials (fat, naltrexone; fat, placebo; and non-fat, placebo) were administered in a random double-blind fashion separated by at least 3 days. Overall, there were no differences between Fat and Non-Fat trials. Hunger ratings (p<0.001) and pancreatic polypeptide levels (p<0.05) were higher for bulimics at baseline. Bulimics also had overall higher ratings for nausea (p<0.05), fatty taste (p<0.01), and fear of swallowing (p<0.005). Bulimics had approximately 40% higher total ghrelin levels at all time points (p<0.001). Hormones and glucose levels were not altered by the modified sham-feeding paradigm. Naltrexone, however, resulted in an overall increase in blood glucose and decrease in ghrelin levels in both groups (p<0.05, for both). These data suggest that bulimic women have different orosensory responses that are not influenced by opioid receptor antagonism, evident in hormonal responses, or dependent on the fat content of a similarly textured liquid.